Church collection bag



Jan. 27, 1959 M. HARRISON 2,870,811

CHURCH COLLECTION BAG Filed June 21, 19 57 5 INVENTOR.

Mau rv'ce Haw/lion BY FIG.5 MMW ATTORNEY United States Patent CHURCH COLLECTION BAG Maurice Harrison, Queens Village, N. Y. Application June 21, 1957, Serial No. 667,188

3 Claims. (Cl. 150,-1)

This invention relates to a bag and to the method of making same and more particularly, to a church collection bag. i

In churches wherein a bag is utilized for the collection of contributions, it is important that the collection bag be of such character as to permit it to be easily and readily passed amongst the congregation. Moreover, it should be attractive in appearance and durable enough to withstand continuous use. Furthermore, a collection bag of this nature should insure a certain degree of privacy and should shield contributors, to a certain degree, when contr butions are made. In churches wherein depositories of this n'ature are utilized, it is generally a rule that the bag must be turned inside out when emptied. It has been found that the continuous inversion of the bag is hard upon the soft fabric which such bags are generally compose of (velvet, flannel and the like) and reduces the usable life of the bag.

It is therefore amongst the primary objects of the pres ent invention to provide a bag of the above character which may be turned inside out without deforming or injuring the fine outer fabric of the bag.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a bag of the above character which is both durable and attractive and offers a degree of privacy to contributors.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a church collection bag which may be easily and readily passed amongst the congregation.

It is another important object of the present invention to provide a novel method of making a double layered bag wherein the lower portion of the inner bag may be completely withdrawn from the remainder of the bag.

Briefly stated, the article of the present invention comprises a bag open at the top portion thereof, a second bag disposed within said bag, the top portion of the inner bag being similarly open, said bags being affixed to each other so that the lower portion of the inner bag may be completely withdrawn from the outer bag.

The method of the present invention comprises producing a closed bag which contains a tubular frame member loosely disposed therein, said frame member for ultimately maintaining the bag opening, affixing the frame member transversely to the bag intermediate the ends thereof thereby dividing the bag into two sections, one of which is insertable in the other to form said double layered bag.

A fuller understanding of the invention and the manner in which its objectives and advantages may be realized will become apparent from the following detailed description thereof taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the bag of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the bag of Fig. 1 turned inside out;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in section, illustrating one of l ce the steps in the manufacture of the bag of the present invention;

Fig. 4 is a view, partly in section, taken through the neck of the bag of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of one of the quarter sections making up the outer bag of Figs. 1 and 2; and

Fig. 6 is a plan view of one of the quarter sections making up the inner bag of Figs. 1 and 2.

Referring now to the drawing and more particularly to Fig. 1 thereof, a church collection bag 10 is shown having a relatively narrow neck 12 and an outwardly flared body 14. The bag is preferably made of a soft lustrous material such as velvet, flannel, velure and the like. The material of the bag may be heavy enough to permit the bag to retain the shape shown in Figs. 1 and 2 when supported only at its underportion primarily because of outwardly flared wall 14. The diameter of opening 20 at neck 12 should be large enough to permit a large hand to be placed deep into the bag.

As may be seen in Fig. 2, the bag proper consists of outer bag 14 3 and inner bag 16. Bag 16 is loosely disposed within bag 14 beingafiixed thereto in the region of neck 12. The inner bag is of a material similar to that comprising the outer bag but of a much lighter weight, for purposes hereinafter appearing.

As may be best seen in Fig. 4, an annular ring 22 mounted in neck 12 insures that the opening of the .bag will not collapse or be otherwise obstructed by the bag itself. In this particular embodiment of the invention, the ring is of a plastic composition.

The shape of the tubular frame 22 may vary in accordance with the ultimate shape to be imparted to the bag, round, fluted, etc. Buckram or other similar stiffening material may be utilized to impart rigidity to the neck of the bag in place of a rigid tubular frame.

in the form of the invention shown in the drawing, ring 22 is mounted in a closed pocket in the neck of the bag, the pocket being formed, as further explained below, by inwardly folding the neck of the outer bag upon itself and stitching the free edge of the outer bag to itself.

The bag of the present invention is preferably made by joining two similar shaped bags, such as 14 and 16, together at their respective neck portions to form a single closed structure. This is best shown in Fig. 3 where the two bags are joined together at 18 by stitching.

Prior to joining the two bags, annular ring 22 is inserted into bag 14 which ultimately comprises the outer skin of the bag. After the two bags are joined as is shown in Fig. 3, ring 22 is worked up towards the neck of bag 14, allowance being made for the fact that the neck of bag 14 will be inwardly folded upon itself and stitched to itself to form a closed pocket for the retention of ring 22. This stitching is visible at 24 in the drawing. The folding of the neck of bag 14 occurs when bag 16 is inserted in bag 14 after the two bags have been joined as aforesaid and ring 22 positioned in the neck of bag 14.

in the form of the invention shown in the drawing, bag 14 is made up of four quarter sections 28, one of which is shown in Fig. 5. The shape of the quarter sections is such as to impart a flare to the bag when joined together at 26 as by stitching. One of the quarter sections making up the inner bag is shown in Fig. 6 at 39 and is similar to the quarter sections making up the outer bag but has a reduced neck portion and is generally smaller in size.

By virtue of the present invention, a collection bag has been provided which may be repeatedly turned inside out without deforming or damaging: the expensive and delicate fabric comprising its outer wall. The inner bag, which is turned inside out, is of a lighter weight and :er life. Furthermore, by virtue of the present invention,

a novel method of making a double layered bag wherein the lower portion of the inner bagmay be Withdrawn from the remainder of the bag has been provided.

Although the invention has been described in detail with respect to one preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art, after reading this specification, that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention and the scope of the appended claims.

What is claimedas new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

I claim: I 1. A church collection bag comprising an outwardly flared bag of readily pliable fabric having an open neck portion, the fabric forming said neck portion being inwardly folded upon itself, and stitched to the unfolded portion of said neck portion adjacent thereto to form a closed pocket, a hook mounted in said pocket for maintaining said neck portion open, a bag corresponding in shape and size to said first mentioned bag loosely disposed within said first mentioned bag and similarly having an open neck portion, the inner bag being aflixed to the outer bag adjacent the underside of the hook, the lower portion of the inner bag being completely with- ,drawable from the outer bag.

2. A church collection bag comprising an outwardly flared bag of readily pliable fabric having an open neck 1y folded upon itself, and stitched to the unfolded'portion of said neck portion adjacent thereto to form a closed pocket, a hoop mounted in said pocket for maintaining said neck portion open, a bag corresponding in shape and size to said first mentioned bag loosely disposed within said first mentioned bag and similarly having an open neck portion, the inner bag being afiixed to the outer bag adjacent the underside of the hoop, the neck portion of the inner bag being folded upon itself to form a support for the hoop,

3. A church collection bag comprising an outwardly flared bag of readily pliable fabric having an open neck portion, the fabric forming said neck portion being inwardly folded upon itself forming a pocket, a hoop mounted in said pocket for maintaining said neck portion open, a bag corresponding in shape and size to said first mentioned bag loosely disposed within said first mentioned bag and similarly having an open top portion, said inner and outer bags being aflixed at what was originally the free ends thereof thereby forming an inner wall at the upper portion of the bag which is a composite of both inner and outer bags, said composite structure being independently affixed to the outer wall of said bag beneath said hoop.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,374,960 Shipman Apr. 12, 1921 2,530,746 Wetherby Nov. 21, 1950 2,565,076 Haubrick Aug. 21, 1951 2,580,796 Kleiss et al Jan. 1, 1952. 

